Plotkin



Feb. 21, 1956 T. PLoTKlN 2,735,094

PAPER STAPLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 21, 1956 T. PLoTKlN 2,735,094

PAPER STAPLING MACHINE:

Filed May 19, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 2 fovneys 4.,MmmmMmmm!il vll 111/11 lll/111|] S l United States PatentA f PAPER STAPLNG MACHNE Theodore Plotkin, Brookline, Mass. pplitittll'l Pily 19, 1953, Serial No. 355,9@6

11 Claims. (Ci. 15e-3) This invention relates to stapling devices, and more particularly to the small desk Vtype of stapling machines to staple papers and documents.

The conventional desk type of stapling machine consists infgeneral of a vertically movable arm, carrying a magazine and drive mechanism for the staples, attached to a 'stationary' base, which is adapted to be laid on a desk 'ort'able and supports the anvil which clinches the ends of the staple. The operator holds the papers to be stpled Vagair'ist the anvil with one hand and presses the movable var'rn down with the other. The use of both hands for thstaplingoper'ation is not a substantial inconvenie'nce if the stapler -is used only occasionally. When a number `of stapling operations must be performed in rapid succession, however, the necessity of using both hands for-eachv operation becomes burdensome and slows down th'ework.

The'- chi'ef object of this invention is to provide a stapling machine which may be readily operated with one hand, so that the users other hand is free to sort and distribute p'apers'or' perform other tasks. Other objects are to vproducea machine so ope'rated which is simple in construction and reliable in operation, and which requires no particular skill to manipulate. If desired, the machine may be' `operated as a conventional stapler using both hands.

The machine consists in general of a frame carrying an inverted stapling head, which may be placed on any at surface, a swinging arm carrying an anvil, and an intermediate lever carrying a plate on which the' papers are placed. The lever is linked to the arm in such 'a way that pressure of the hand holding the papers against the plate" brings the anvil into operating position and operates the st'apling head.

inthe drawings:

Fig. l is a plan` view of a stapling device constructed according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device in open position,

Fig. 3 lis a side View, partly in cross-section of the device' in operating position,

. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section along line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-section along line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and Y Fig.l6' is a side view, partly in cross-section showing the staple magazine opened for lling.

The staple drive mechanism is of generally conventio'nal construction but is inverted from the usual position. The mechanism is enclosed in a two-piece'frame consisting of a lower piece 1t) and an upper piece 11, hinged together at the rear by pins 13 and 14. The rear part 12 of frame piece 19 forms a base for the-rear part of the stapler. The driving head 1S is slidably mounted in the forwardly extending arm 12a of iframe piece 10 and is attached to the presser foot 16 which is spring-pressed outward from the frame by coil spring 17. Th'e'vupper frame piece carries the magazine 18 in which a block of staples 19 is placed. The staples are pushed forward by a conventional feed mechanism consisting of a slide 20 2,735,094 Patented Feb. 21, 1956 ICC I having a hook 2'1`t;t v'1hicl1` ay tension spring 22'is connected.

upward to the limit of slots 4t) and 41.

The spring i's-"carried forward around a 'pin 23 which bears against a latch bar 24.v slidably mounted in arm 12a; A pair oflugs 25 extending downward from framepiece 11 have notches 2'6'which are engaged by the latch bar 24 when the 'frame 'is'closed The latch b'ar may be'disengaged to open the frame for loading as shownin Fig. 6. Aguide channel 27 runs the length of the magazine to guide the slide and the staples.` The slide is keyed to channel 27 -by means of headed studs 20a running through slot 27a in the channel; Drive head 15 carries an ejector plate 2S which pushes a staple out through slot 29 in frame piece 11 when presserfoot 16 is pressed toward the frame.

Upper frame piece 111 has a pair of upwardly extendingwings 3i) and 31 in which areV mounted pins 32 and 33. A tirst lever 34, carrying an anvil 35 is rotatably mounted on pin 32.l The anvil has the :conventional grooves 36 and `37 l(Fig. 4) for jclinching the ends of the staple. A handltnob 55 isv mounted on the lever above the anvil. A' second lever 33 has a pair -of upstan'ding lugs 39 and 51 provided'with slots 4i) and 41 which ride over pin 33. The'ifo'rward part of lever '38 is widened to form a bed plate 42 on "which papers are laid for stapling. The bed plate has a depending-rounded lip 43 which acts as a baffle to prevent insertion of the paper into the wrong opening, and isprovide'd with a central opening 50 large enough to admit the anvil v3S and clear the end of frame piece v11.

Lever 38 carries `a pair of upstanding lugs 44 and 55 which are rotatab'lytfconnected ltolever 34 by means of a pin 46. Mountedlunderlever 38 are two leaf springs 47 and 48. Spring 47 tends to push the lever 38 in the clockwise-direction (as -viewedin Figs. 2 and 3) about pin 33, and spring 48 pushes the inner end of the lever A projection 49 enlever 34 bears against `lever 3.8 when the levers are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and acts as a stop to limit the'upwafrdtravel of both levers.

v To operate the-device, the papers to be stapled (52 in Fig. 3) are-placed -on the bed plate 42. The operator then "presses vdown on `the bed plate, rotating lever 33 count'erclockwise (as viewed in'Figs. 2 and 3) about pin 33. ylti'fis-immaterialwhether theoperator' presses on the front part of the plate orto one side, as presser foot 1'6 is 'widefenough to prevent tipping. The motion of plate 42 istr'ansmitted-'to lever 34 through the connection at pin 46. Because of the arrangement of the linkage, lever 34-travels more rapidly 'than lever 38.' By the time lever 38 h'asimove'd downward suiciently to allow the forward endof-frame'piece 1-1 to come in contactwith the `under side of the paper, anvil 35 will be incontact with'the upper side 4of the paper, asy shown in Fig. 3. At this point, a rise 53 on lever 38 'engages the under side of lever 34 preventing further'r'elative movement of the levers, eX- ceptthat Vthe clearance provided by slots 40 and 41 allows for a certain amount of further adjustment between anvil 35 and the face of plate '42 according to the thickness of the group `of papers introduced. It is clear that further downward 'pressure on plate 42 will depress the forward endl o'f framelrl and'operate the driving head 15 to drive a' staple through thepaper against anvil 3S. When the pressure isreleased spring 17 restores the driving head to its idle position, and springs 47 and 48 return the levers tothe position shown in Fig. 2.

' The' stapler allows an operator to staple papers together rapidlyand-'easily using one hand both to hold the papers and to operate the machine. This type of operation frees the-operatorssother'hand for sorting and additional tasks and also is an advantage when the machine is used on a store counter or elsewhere where it cannot be readily reached with both hands. The device thus provides the advantages of tbe more cumbersome and expensive automatic type of stapling machine, butV requires no electric attachments and occupies no more space than the conventional desk type of stapler. The machine may be readily picked up and opened for loading as shown in Fig. 6. It is understood that the device may be more conveniently loaded when held upside down.

The machine will operate side wise as well as vertically. For example, base 12 may be screwed or otherwise fastened to a wall, and plate 42 pushed toward the Wall to operate the anvil and driving head.

If desired, the operator may use the machine in the same manner as a conventional stapler, holding the papers on plate 42 with one hand and pressing down on hand knob 55 to actuate the driving head.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for applying staples comprising a body, having a base portion adapted to rest on a supporting surface and an arm projecting from said base; a magazine for staples mounted on said body; a staple driving head mounted on said arm and slidable with respect there to in a direction generally perpendicular to said surface; means for feeding staples in said magazine one at a time to said head; a foot attached to said head and adapted to engage said supporting surface; a first lever connected to said magazine adjacent said base portion and swingable toward and away from said supporting surface; an anvil mounted on said first lever and adapted to cooperate with said driving head to drive and clinch a staple; a second lever connected to said magazine adjacent said base portion and swingable in the same direction as said first lever, said second lever having a plate disposed between said head and said anvil, and the plate having an opening adapted to admit said anvil; and a linkage connecting said levers and adapted to carry said anvil into cooperation with said driving head when said plate is moved toward said surface.

2. A device for applying staples comprising: aV body, having a base portion adapted to rest on a supporting surface and an arm projecting from said base portion; a magazine for staples mounted on said body; a first lever mounted on said magazine adjacent said base portion, said first lever being swingable toward and away from said surface; a second lever mounted on said magazine adjacent said base portion and swingable in the same direction as said first lever; a linkage connecting said levers and adapted to produce motion of said first lever toward said surface when the second lever is so moved; and cooperating staple driving members carried by said first lever and said arm and operable by movement of said second lever toward said surface to drive and clinch a staple.

3. A device as described in claim 2, said second lever having a plate disposed between said first lever and said arm and spaced from the latter, and the plate having a lip projecting toward said arm.

4. A device for applying staples comprising: a body, having a base portion adapted to rest on a supporting surface and an arm projecting from said base portion; a magazine for staples mounted on said body; a first lever mounted on said magazine adjacent said base portion, said first lever being swingable toward and away from said surface; a second lever mounted on said magazine adjacent said base portion and swingable in the same direction as said first lever; a linkage connecting said levers and adapted to produce motion of said first lever toward said surface when the second lever is so moved; a spring adapted to urge said levers away from said surface; and cooperating staple driving members carried by said first lever and said arm and operable by movement of said second lever toward said surface to'dn've and clinch a staple.

5. A device as described in claim 4, having a first stop means for limiting the travel of said levers away from said surface, and a second stop means for limiting -the relative motion of said levers with respect to each other in the direction toward said surface.

6. In a stapler of the type having supporting means with a portion adapted to engage a supporting surface, and a staple driving member slidably received in the supporting means; a first lever connected to said supporting means, and swingable toward and away from said surface; a second lever connected to said supporting means and swingable in the same direction as said first lever; and a linkage connecting said levers and adapted to move said first lever toward said surface when the second lever is so moved, and a staple clinching member mounted on said first lever and disposed to be brought'into operative relationship with said driving member by movement of said first lever toward said surface, said driving member having means adapted to engage said surface, and being slidable toward said clinching member.

7. A device as described in claim 6, said second leverk having a plate, adapted to support articles to be stapled, disposed between said clinching member and said driving member and having an opening adapted to admit said driving and clinching members.

8. In a stapler of the type having supporting means with forward and rear ends, and a staple driving member slidably received in said supporting means adjacent said forward end; a first lever connected to said supporting means and having a fulcrum thereon adjacent but spaced from said rear end, said first lever being swingable toward and away from said driving member; a second lever connected to said supporting means and having a fulcrum thereon nearer said rear end than the fulcrum of said first lever, said second lever being disposed between said first lever and said supporting means and swingable in the same direction as said first lever; a link connecting said levers together at a point further from said rear endV than their respective fulcrums, whereby said first lever ismoved toward said driving member when the second lever is so moved; and a clinching member mounted on said first lever and disposed to be brought into operative relationship with said driving member by movement of said first lever toward said driving member, the latter.

being slidable with respect to said supporting means toward and away from said clinching member.

9. A device as described in claim 8, said first lever have ing a portion extending rearwardly of its fulcrumand disposed to engage said second lever and limit the travel of the two levers away from said driving member, and the second lever having a portion forward of the respective fulcrums of the levers adapted to engage said first lever and limit the travel of the two levers toward said driving member.

lf). A device as described in claim 8, said supporting means having a pin serving as the fulcrum of said second lever, and saidsecond lever having a slot in which. said pin is engaged to permit sliding movement of said second lever toward and away from said supporting means, and the device having a spring bearing on said second lever adjacent said slot and normally urging said second lever away from said supporting means.

1l. A device as described in claim 6, having a first stop means for limiting the travel of said levers away from said surface, and a second stop means for limiting the relative motion Vof said levers with respect to each other in the direction toward said surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,227,314 Maynard Dec. 31, 1940 2,472,469 Di Dato June 7, 1949 2,632,889 `Beecroft Mar. 3l, 1953 

